Tag

Crowdfunding

All articles tagged with #crowdfunding

Star Citizen crosses $1B in crowdfunding as devs push toward 1.0
technology10 hours ago

Star Citizen crosses $1B in crowdfunding as devs push toward 1.0

Star Citizen has surpassed $1 billion in crowdfunding from more than 6.5 million backers since 2012, fueling ongoing development toward a first 1.0 release and continued expansion of the universe with backer-funded content. The project, led by Chris Roberts at Cloud Imperium Games, has used unconventional marketing like the Anvil Odin/ Odin Founders Club sale and plans to keep adding content even after 1.0, with Squadron 42 targeting a 2026 finish in a perpetually evolving space sim universe.

Star Citizen crosses $1B crowdfunding milestone as $5,000 Odin ship goes on sale
gaming1 day ago

Star Citizen crosses $1B crowdfunding milestone as $5,000 Odin ship goes on sale

Star Citizen has surpassed $1 billion in crowdfunding with about 6.5 million backers since 2012, while launching the Anvil Odin capital ship for $5,000 as a limited, non-playable “vehicle concept pledge” that includes a loaner Idris P until release; Odin Founders Club applications were required, and creator Chris Roberts touts a bold, enduring universe, as the game remains in early access. The news comes amid ongoing discussions about pay-to-win items, which the developers say will be earnable in-game in a future patch, and a free trial runs through May 27.

Star Citizen Tops $1B in Crowdfunding After 14 Years, Yet 1.0 Release Date Remains Elusive
gaming1 day ago

Star Citizen Tops $1B in Crowdfunding After 14 Years, Yet 1.0 Release Date Remains Elusive

Star Citizen has surpassed $1 billion in crowdfunding after 14 years, but Cloud Imperium Games still has no announced release date for version 1.0. The latest Alpha 4.8 update introduces a full economy, persistence reset, refueling contracts and a six‑phase Tactical Strike Group on the Nyx base, with refueling mechanics and new gameplay loops added. Developer Chris Roberts has previously floated 2027–2028 for 1.0 and a 2026 window for Squadron 42, though delays remain possible amid competition like GTA 6.

Star Citizen Reaches $1B in Crowdfunding as Squadron 42 Nears Completion
gaming2 days ago

Star Citizen Reaches $1B in Crowdfunding as Squadron 42 Nears Completion

Star Citizen has hit $1 billion in lifetime funding through crowdfunding, with all proceeds reinvested into development and operations. Cloud Imperium Games says Squadron 42 is in the closing stages, while no firm release date has been set for Star Citizen’s 1.0; the team emphasizes fan involvement and transparency as the marketing push for Squadron 42 begins.

Kickstarter Reverses NSFW Rules, But Stripe Can Still Pause Approved Campaigns
news7 days ago

Kickstarter Reverses NSFW Rules, But Stripe Can Still Pause Approved Campaigns

Kickstarter has rolled back its controversial NSFW guidelines after revealing they were largely driven by Stripe’s compliance rules. The company’s COO said Stripe’s separate requirements shape how money moves and can suspend campaigns mid-funding, leaving creators’ funds in limbo. The platform has returned to a narrow policy banning pornography and illegal content, but notes that Stripe can still suspend campaigns even after Kickstarter approves them. Stripe did not comment.

Kickstarter clamps down on sexual-pleasure rewards
technology12 days ago

Kickstarter clamps down on sexual-pleasure rewards

The Verge reports Kickstarter has tightened its rules to ban rewards described as providing sexual pleasure, allowing pleasure only if the product isn’t designed for insertion or penetration. The move signals a return to stricter moderation after a more permissive stance in 2019, reigniting debate over censorship in the sex-toy industry and how platforms govern content.

Crowd-Powered bid to buy Spirit Airlines draws on Packers’ ownership playbook
business22 days ago

Crowd-Powered bid to buy Spirit Airlines draws on Packers’ ownership playbook

Spirit Airlines has shut down, and a former passenger launched Spirit 2.0 to rally everyday people to buy the airline using a publicly owned model inspired by the Green Bay Packers. Pledges total almost $23 million from about 36,605 people, but no money has moved yet, and the group targets roughly $1.7 billion before private equity could swoop in; regulators and other carriers have begun offering help to stranded travelers.

Three new Slay the Spire 2 plushies arrive via Makeship as players go wild for the sequel
technology2 months ago

Three new Slay the Spire 2 plushies arrive via Makeship as players go wild for the sequel

Mega Crit revealed three Slay the Spire 2 plushies (Ironclad, Silent, Defect) sold through Makeship, available for a limited time until April 3 at $30 each with roughly $20 shipping to the UK and potential customs. The piece highlights Slay the Spire 2’s surge in popularity, including multiplayer and two new classes (Necrobinder and Regent), while noting the author’s own playful confession of ordering two plushies.

Tembo turns a wooden checkerboard into a playful drum machine
gadgets2 months ago

Tembo turns a wooden checkerboard into a playful drum machine

Tembo is a toy-like wooden drum machine that uses magnets to hold wooden tokens on a checkerboard-style grid to trigger a five-track sequencer. It includes eight built-in sample packs, support for mic/line-in sampling, built-in effects, and a simple looper, all aimed at making music-making approachable. It’s being crowdfunded on Kickstarter with early-bird pricing around $369 before rising to $550 at retail.

Fans Rally to Fund Fame: The Rise of Celebrity GoFundMes
culture2 months ago

Fans Rally to Fund Fame: The Rise of Celebrity GoFundMes

After James Van Der Beek and Eric Dane died from long‑term illnesses, fans launched GoFundMe campaigns to support their families—raising $2.7M for Van Der Beek and about $471K of a $500K goal for Dane—sparking debate over wealth, philanthropy, and whether fans should fund celebrity lives. Experts say rising medical costs and close fan–celebrity bonds could fuel more campaigns, but research shows such efforts are uneven, with white men more likely to raise larger sums, highlighting broader healthcare inequities that crowdfunding alone cannot fix.

Van Der Beek GoFundMe Sparks Five Competing American Worldviews
celebrity3 months ago

Van Der Beek GoFundMe Sparks Five Competing American Worldviews

James Van Der Beek’s family GoFundMe has raised about $2.65 million from nearly 50,000 donors (77% over its $1.5M goal), prompting 1,500+ comments that split into five recurring camps: Sell the Ranch First, Grief Deserves Grace, Show Us Receipts, This Is a Healthcare Crisis, and It’s Complicated. The debate highlights personal beliefs about wealth, transparency, and the U.S. healthcare system, with donors averaging about $53 each. New reporting that the ranch down payment involved friends via a trust adds nuance to the discussion about whether the campaign was necessary or justified.